Baby-led weaning

logans_mum · #1 (**permalink**) 22-08-08, 22:04

Did anyone do this with their LO? I'm thinking of trying it with Callum. He's still not showing any interest in our food and is very happy on just formula for now so we're definitely waiting til he's 6 months before starting solids.
I just wondered how to go about it, is it the same as with purees that you just offer a little bit of one particular food for the first few days? Like a piece of banana? And do you offer if say just at breakfast for the first week and then move on to lunch & dinner after that? Do you give purees alongside finger food or skip purees altogether? Also how do you give them meat if they've no teeth to chew chunks of it, do you puree just the meat? I've absolutely no idea what to do, help! xo

Ellie H · #2 (**permalink**) 22-08-08, 22:16

Isabellasmum did it. I'm sure she'll pick up this thread.

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jewel · #3 (**permalink**) 23-08-08, 07:36

How bizarre, I was thinking of doing a post about this.

I have started weaning Poppy onto food and off the breast (boo hoo) onto formula and have to say Abbie's inspired me to look in to baby led weaning. I must admit i've started Poppy on purees but have tried her with brocolli spears which she seemed to like. I'm a bit of a scaredy cat though and worry she'll choke (which she hasn't) but she sometimes gags (but she does that with some of my purees too

I had one of these for Ruby and i'm thinking i'll fish it out for Pop's http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/detai...category=CWM82

I did find this site pretty interesting too...

http://babyledweaning.blogware.com/

However would be interested to hear Abbie's starting advice!

isabellasmum · #4 (**permalink**) 23-08-08, 11:19

We did indeed do BLW. Not through choice (didn't know it existed) but more because Isabella refused any type of mush/puree/spoonfeeding and used to help herself to things we were eating and scoff them.

Her first foods were sticks of cucumber and red peppers. Stolen from my Dad's plate and she howled when we tried to take them off her.

After that I used to give her chunks of roast veg etc. She used to have sweet potato roasted in little chunks or butternut squash or carrots, parsnip etc.

She used to love broccoli and green beans. To introduce meat I started by making little sausages from turkey mince and apple and pear which she adored but she was soon chomping on strips of roast meat with no probs.

I did a thread about BLW ages ago so I'll try and find it for you. I would do it without a doubt when I have another baby as I think it is fantastic for their development.

This is link for turkey twizzlers I used to make Isabella: Turkey Twizzlers and Pumpkin Wedges

To be honest she was eating normal food by about 7.5 months. I remember going to our favourite restaurant for sunday lunch and her sat feeding herself roast beef, mange tout and mashed potatoes with her fingers. People kept coming in to look at her as the chef was telling all the other customers about the little baby eating the sunday roast.

She mastered cutlery really early too which apparently is common for BLW'ers.

logans_mum · #5 (**permalink**) 23-08-08, 12:46

That's great Isabellasmum thank you, just what I was looking for! Really like the idea of Callum being able to eat with us and just give him some veg or something on his tray! Probably my laziness too, not having to make purees! Also think it may help Logan be more adventurous, especially with veg because anything Callum has Logan usually wants! Love the idea of the little sausages and they'd be great for Logan too! Pmsl at the thought of a tiny Isabella eating a Sunday roast! xo

Jewel - I really worried about choking with Logan (also he didn't get his first tooth til 11 months old) but that led to me giving him finger food very late on and I think that has contributed to his fussy eating. I'm sure if you make sure the food is soft enough then there's very little chance of them choking. The feeder looks great, haven't seen them here but I'm sure I can get my Mum to post to me. I'm not planning on starting for a couple of weeks so let me know how it goes with Poppy! We should have a sticky BLW thread for ideas! xo

rachaelmae · #6 (**permalink**) 23-08-08, 18:51

brave ladies

goodluckxxxxxxxx

isabellasmum · #7 (**permalink**) 26-08-08, 20:57

Found this photo of Isabella eating raw spinach (she used to love anything green)

She so would not entertain that now!

Ellie H · #8 (**permalink**) 26-08-08, 21:55

Awwwwwwwwww!

Look how ickle she used to be!

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isabellasmum · #9 (**permalink**) 26-08-08, 22:02

More to the point Ellie look how bald she used to be!

Her head is like a very beautiful pickled onion!

acad · #10 (**permalink**) 27-08-08, 07:10

We have started Will's on purees now, which she is loving, she will sit there if i hold a banana and she will quite happily munch on it till it is all gone